Black Friday for many a family tradition, for some a strategy

As stores move up Black Friday sales to Thanksgiving night, more shoppers are giving up their coffee and pie to shop the early sales.

AMY LEAP

Hold the dessert.

As stores move up Black Friday sales to Thanksgiving night, more shoppers are giving up their coffee and pie to shop the early sales.

With the 2012 holiday spending forecast predicted to be higher than the 5.6 percent increase from 2011, according to the National Retail Federation, businesses hope to get a big helping of the retail pie in Black Friday sales.

"Despite the frenzy and the cold, I'm out there among the masses shopping for needed and sometime not-so-needed goods," said Stroudsburg resident Michael Warrington.

He calls himself a "big time Black Friday shopper" who simply can't pass up a good deal. "It's become somewhat of a family tradition," Warrington said.

"We (Warrington, his fiancée, his mom and sister) fill our bellies throughout the day, then shop away the gained pounds Thursday night into Friday," he said.

Sometimes his dad goes along, but according to Warrington, his dad isn't as enthusiastic about joining the Black Friday hunt for bargains.

Make a list; check it twice

A BIGinsight survey reported that 52.8 percent of Americans have already started holiday shopping, up 51.4 percent from last year. If the survey is correct, shoppers need every edge they can get.

"I love Black Friday, but you definitely need a list and a plan," said Theresa Listner of Albrightsville.

A die-hard Black Friday shopper, she starts her shopping soon after her Thanksgiving Day meal.

Warrington shares a similar view and said if he were to give advice and guidance to first-time Black Friday shoppers — or brave souls who dangerously wander into retail stores the night after Thanksgiving merely to see what the fuss is about — he would tell them to plan ahead.

"You should always go into that arena knowing beforehand what it is you plan on purchasing. Make a list. Check it twice — and about three times after that. That's the first rule of Black Friday shopping — plan ahead," he said.

Listner starts planning on Wednesday, the week before Thanksgiving. "I check out store flyers and start making a list of items I want to buy," she said.

Listner's first stop will be the Crossings Premium Outlet, Tannersville. "I list the stores I want to go to first. Usually Yankee Candle, Coach, Gap and Claire's," she said.

"Items aren't always in the same place you would usually see them any other day. Employees are directed to have the ticketed items stacked usually in the aisles in order to have smooth transitional shopping," Warrington said.

Another handy Black Friday tip, Warrington said, is to know the lay of the land.

"This applies to the retail stores as well as how to navigate to them. It's important to know what it is you want from each store, what section you can find it in, as well as the quickest way to get out of the store, and to the next one," Warrington said.

He considers this a race not only against time — certain sales do end at certain times — but also a race against his fellow shoppers.

"Know when the stores open, when the sales start, when they end and most importantly, allow ample time to find parking," he said.

Essentials to take along

Keep a supply of snacks, juices and water in the car. "That way you can have a drink and something to eat while driving to the next store," Listner said.

When it comes to what you carry while shopping, Warrington suggested the bare minimum.

"I carry my cellphone and my money. That way you don't have to worry about losing something," he said.

Warrington has his plan down to a science; he has been a Black Friday shopper since he was small.

"I am 29, and I remember when I was small, going with my mom and grandmother," he said.

Lastly

Now that you have the scoop on making the most of shopping through the night, Listner has one last piece of advice.

"If you accept the fact that people are going to push and shove, the stores are going to be mobbed and you might not get everything on the list, you can enjoy yourself," she said.

After all, Listner said, "there is nothing like being part of the mob in front of Walmart and hearing the manager say, 'Go.' "